OET score for nurses
Most regulators ask for 350 (grade B) in Listening, Reading and Speaking and 300 (C+) in Writing. Australia and Ontario ask for more in some sub-tests. Pick where you will register.
Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
- Listening350Grade B
- Reading350Grade B
- Writing300Grade C+
- Speaking350Grade B
- Two sittings
- Two sittings within 12 months, all four sub-tests each time, with at least 300 in Listening, Reading and Speaking and 250 in Writing in both.
- Results last
- Two years, up to when the NMC assesses your full application.
- Format
- Paper, computer or OET@Home. Take the Nursing version.
Every regulator at a glance
| Regulator | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NMC, UK | 350 (B) | 350 (B) | 300 (C+) | 350 (B) |
| Ahpra, Australia | 350 (B) | 360 (B) | 350 (B) | 360 (B) |
| NCNZ, New Zealand | 350 (B) | 350 (B) | 300 (C+) | 350 (B) |
| CNO, Ontario | 350 (B) | 330 (C+) | 320 (C+) | 350 (B) |
| BCCNM, British Columbia | 350 (B) | 300 (C+) | 300 (C+) | 350 (B) |
| NSNMR, Nova Scotia | 350 (B) | 300 (C+) | 300 (C+) | 350 (B) |
Alberta's regulator accepts only CELBAN and IELTS Academic, not OET.
The 0 to 500 scale
Each sub-test gets its own score in steps of 10, and its own grade letter. There is no overall score.
| Grade | Score |
|---|---|
| A | 450 to 500 |
| B | 350 to 440 |
| C+ | 300 to 340 |
| C | 200 to 290 |
| D | 100 to 190 |
| E | 0 to 90 |
Scores out of 42
Listening and Reading have 42 one-mark questions each. OET turns your marks into the 0 to 500 scale. Grade B (350) typically needs at least 30 of 42.
Check your own scores
Compare two sittings with the NMC rule, or find the scores your next sitting needs for Ahpra.
Questions nurses ask
What OET score do nurses need for the UK?
The NMC asks for 350 (grade B) in Listening, Reading and Speaking and 300 (C+) in Writing, in the Nursing version of OET.
What OET score do nurses need for Australia?
For tests from 23 April 2026, Ahpra asks for 350 in Listening, 360 in Reading, 350 in Writing and 360 in Speaking, at a test centre.
What OET score do nurses need for New Zealand?
The Nursing Council of New Zealand asks for 350 in Reading, Listening and Speaking and 300 in Writing.
What OET score do nurses need for Canada?
Each province sets its own. Ontario asks for 350 in Listening and Speaking, 330 in Reading and 320 in Writing. British Columbia and Nova Scotia ask for B in Listening and Speaking and C+ in Reading and Writing. Alberta does not accept OET.
What is an OET score out of 42?
Listening and Reading each have 42 one-mark questions. OET converts your marks to the 0 to 500 scale and does not publish a fixed table, because the cut-off varies by test. OET says grade B (350) typically needs at least 30 of 42.
Find your weakest sub-test
A free Nursing sample: a case-note letter and a Speaking role-play with model answers, and a Reading question.